Generic Drugs

American Diabetes Association

Successful diabetes management is contingent on a multitude of factors, including patient access and adherence to a prescribed
drug regimen. In addition, the overall cost of diabetes care is an important consideration that affects access to care. One
approach to improving access and reducing costs is the utilization of generic drugs. Generic drugs are a medically appropriate
alternative to their brand-name counterparts and have been proven to be medically safe and effective.

The American Diabetes Association encourages the development and commercialization of generic drugs. The Association believes
that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must continue to have regulatory oversight of these drugs, and we emphasize
that generic drugs must continue to meet high-quality standards.

The ultimate decision of whether to use a generic drug to initiate therapy or as a replacement for a brand-name drug should
be made by the patient and the health care provider.